Accessing radio content from a non-radio source

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for accessing broadcast media items and segments from non-broadcast sources. In response to detecting that a user has not finished listening to a broadcast segment (e.g., a radio segment), an electronic device can automatically identify and access an alternate, non-broadcast source for the same broadcast segment (e.g., a corresponding podcast episode). Using the electronic device, a user can play back the segment from the non-broadcast source, starting playback at the last position of the broadcast segment when the user stopped listening to the broadcast. In some embodiments, the electronic device can update library counts (e.g., play counts and new/not new tags) based on media items and segments played back as part of a media broadcast.

1 . A method for accessing a radio segment from a non-radio source, comprising:
 directing radio tuner circuitry to receive a radio broadcast comprising a plurality of radio segments;   identifying a currently played back radio segment;   detecting that the communications circuitry has ceased receiving the radio broadcast;   identifying a non-radio source for the radio segment; and   switching playback of the radio segment to the identified non-radio source.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying the playback position of the radio segment at the time of detecting that the communications circuitry has ceased receiving the radio broadcast; and   playing back the radio segment of the identified non-radio source from substantially the identified playback position.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 playing back further comprises playing back the radio segment of the identified non-radio source from a playback position prior to the identified playback position.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the playback position is at least one of 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, and 1 minute prior to the identified playback position.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the non-radio source comprises at least one of a podcast, a unicast stream from a remote server, and a locally stored media library containing the segment.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting that an instruction has been provided to turn off the radio tuner circuitry; and   identifying the non-radio source in response to detecting that the instruction has been provided.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 providing identification information for the identified radio segment to a remote system; and   identifying the non-radio source using the remote system.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving the identified non-radio source from the remote system.   
     
     
         9 . A communications device for playing back a media broadcast from a non-broadcast source, comprising communications circuitry and a processor, the processor operative to:
 direct the communications circuitry to receive a media broadcast, wherein the media broadcast comprises a plurality of media items broadcast sequentially;   determine that the communications circuitry has ceased receiving the media broadcast;   identify the last received media item of the media broadcast;   identify the last playback position of the last received media item;   identify a non-broadcast source for the identified last received media item;   retrieve the last received media item from the identified non-broadcast source; and   play back the retrieved last received media item from substantially the identified playback position.   
     
     
         10 . The communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 determine the duration of a pre-determined portion of the last received media item;   identify an alternate playback position that is prior to the identified last playback position by the determined duration; and   play back the last received media item from the identified alternate playback position.   
     
     
         11 . The communications device of  claim 10 , wherein the pre-determined portion is selected based on at least one of:
 the total duration of the media item;   the duration between the beginning and the identified last playback position of the media item; and   features of the media item audio.   
     
     
         12 . The communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 direct the communications circuitry to connect to the non-broadcast source.   
     
     
         13 . The communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 determine that the media item is locally stored in memory; and   play back the locally stored media item.   
     
     
         14 . A system for playing back a media broadcast from a non-broadcast source, comprising a communications device in communication with an electronic device, wherein:
 the communications device comprises communications circuitry and a processor, the processor operative to:
 direct the communications circuitry to receive a media broadcast comprising a plurality of media items; 
 determine that the communications circuitry no longer receives the media broadcast 
 identify the last media item played back prior to determining that the communications no longer receives the media broadcast; and 
 provide information identifying the last media item to the electronic device, wherein a processor of the electronic device is operative to:
 receive the information identifying the last media item; 
 identify a non-broadcast source for the identified last media item; and 
 retrieve the identified last media item from the identified non-broadcast source. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the processor of the communications device is further operative to:
 identify the last playback position of the media item prior to determining; and 
 provide the identified last playback position to the electronic device, wherein the processor of the electronic device is further operative to play back the retrieved last media item substantially from the identified last playback position. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a remote server comprising communications circuitry and a processor, the processor operative to:
 receive from the communications device information identifying the last media item and the identified last playback position; and 
 provide at least one of the information identifying the last media item and the identified last playback position to the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor of the remote server is further operative to:
 receive information identifying played back media items and playback positions from each of a plurality of communications devices used by the user;   determine that the electronic device is playing back a media item for which a playback position was received; and   providing the received playback position to the one of the plurality of media items.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor of the remote server is further operative to:
 retrieve play count information from the received information identifying played back media items;   identify a library of media items associated with the user; and   provide the retrieved play count information to the library to update library counts associated with the media items of the library.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the library counts comprise at least one of play counts, preference ratings, and new/not new flags. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable media for accessing a radio segment from a non-radio source the computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions recorded thereon for:
 directing radio tuner circuitry to receive a radio broadcast comprising a plurality of radio segments;   identifying a currently played back radio segment;   detecting that the communications circuitry has ceased receiving the radio broadcast;   identifying a non-radio source for the radio segment; and   switching playback of the radio segment to the identified non-radio source.   
     
     
         21 . The computer readable media of  claim 20 , wherein the computer-readable media comprises additional computer-readable instructions recorded thereon for:
 identifying the playback position of the radio segment at the time of detecting that the communications circuitry has ceased receiving the radio broadcast; and   playing back the radio segment of the identified non-radio source from substantially the identified playback position.